Another game from that season that I will never forget!!
Security restrains Charles Williams as he and Danny Fortson approach Charlotte fans.
https://apnews.com/article/81175b3d47087b4c96865871e93a67df
North Carolina Charlotte receives reprimand from league for melee
January 24, 1997
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ A soda-dumping, basketball-hurling melee that erupted after No. 9 Cincinnati won a close road game prompted a formal reprimand Friday of host North Carolina Charlotte by Conference USA.
The public scolding was determined an adequate response, in part because N.C. Charlotte was apologetic about Tuesday’s incident involving 49ers fans.
This is an isolated incident,″ assistant commissioner Brian Teter said. Everybody’s got wild students.″
Meanwhile, Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins said Friday that player Ryan Fletcher _ who admitted to throwing a basketball into the crowd at N.C. Charlotte’s Halton Arena _ will stay home while the Bearcats travel to play Southern California on Sunday.
The altercation started after Cincinnati survived a late comeback attempt by the 49ers and won 77-67 Tuesday.
Fans began by taunting Bearcats players, then threw ice and sodas as the athletes entered a tunnel to return to their locker room. The climax came with players zipping basketballs into the stands in retaliation.
Fletcher said the ball he threw didn’t hit anyone.
It’s unfortunate that it happened,″ he said. It’s embarrassing. It really could have been avoided. It should have been avoided. We obviously should have not retaliated for what they were doing _ throwing stuff at us.
Todd Browne, a freshman at North Carolina Charlotte, said he was struck in the right cheek and had a tooth chipped by a basketball hurled by a Cincinnati player.
The melee, part of which was captured on videotape, violated the conference’s code of conduct for host teams, but there will be no fines or other penalties imposed, Teter said.
Conference USA commissioner Michael Slive said he will ask athletic directors of member schools to develop plans to do more to separate fans from visiting teams.
In a report to the conference earlier this week, N.C. Charlotte said it has taken steps to prevent a repeat of the confrontation. Teter declined to discuss the contents of the report.
Huggins said the problems started early in the game. Bearcats player Charles Williams was struck in the mouth with a quarter, apparently thrown from the stands, he said. Williams, who was not seriously hurt, continued to play after the incident.
